Role of Wto in Protecting Ipr - 3290 Words

A Paper on Role of World Trade Organization in Protecting Intellectual Property Rights Authors 1. Satyendra Narayan Singh Assistant Professor GNIT, Greater Noida. Mob. 9654151872 2. Alok Mohan Assistant Professor, RBMI, Greater Noida. Mob. 9717047774 Abstract Now a days protection of Intellectual Property Rights has become a very essential aspect for every country because so many Intellectual Properties are of national interest. Copyright, patents, trademarks, designs and even natural resources contains national importance. TRIPS enforces a powerful mechanism for protection of Intellectual Property Rights. This paper seeks to provide an introduction to the role played by WTO†¦show more content†¦Different Types of Intellectual Property Rights Patents are legal titles granting the owner the exclusive right to make commercial use of an invention. To qualify for patent protection, inventions must be new, non-obvious, and commercially applicable. The term of protection is usually limited to 20 years, after which the invention moves into public domain. The patent system is one of the oldest and most traditional forms of IPRs protection. Almost all manufacturing industries make use of the patent system to protect inventions from being copied by competing firms. Since the early 1980s, patents have also been granted for agricultural biotechnology products and processes and for certain aspects of computer software. As an adjunct to the patent system, some countries have introduced utility models (or petty patents). The novelty criteria for utility models are less stringent and are typically granted for small, incremental innovations. Their term of protection is far shorter than for â€Å"regular† invention patents (typically four to seven years). Similarly, industrial designs protect the ornamental features of consumer goods such as shoes or cars. To be eligible for protection, designs must be original or new. They are generally conferred for a period of five to fifteen years. Trademarks are words, signs, or symbols that identify a certain product or company. They seek to offer consumers the assurance of purchasing what they intend toShow MoreRelatedPharmaceutical Companies, Intellectual Property935 Words   |  4 Pagesdistribution and still be making some revenue. 2. What are the principal arguments of pharmaceutical companies that oppose making exceptions to IPR laws for developing countries? What are the arguments by NGOs and others for relaxing IPR laws? -Some of the arguments are that the pharmaceutical companies that oppose making exceptions to IPR laws for developing countries is that if other countries were producing generic brands they would no longer be able to compete and make large profitsRead MoreEssay On Gene Diversity1015 Words   |  5 Pagesbenefit sharing (ABS). ICC played an active role coordinating business participation in the negotiations and continues to coordinate business input in the process of national implementation of the Protocol. ROLE OF INTERNATIONAL REGULATIONS: Both the diversity of traditional knowledge system on use of medicinal plants as well as the resource itself is facing a major challenge in the area of patents and IPRs. The major International Regulations effecting IPRs and traditional knowledge are ConventionRead MoreUtility Models Case Study1079 Words   |  5 PagesChina, and France, respectively.There has been a research about the role of patents and utility models in innovation and economic growth by different level of economic development. Kim et el., found that patent protection is an important determinant in innovation and contribute to economic growth in developed countries, but not in developing. Instead, they find utility models – a minor form of intellectual property rights (IPRs) affects innovation and growth in developing countries. They also foundRead MoreEconomic And Social Status Of China1549 Words   |  7 Pagesfirm that it can not be oversighted. However, law related intellectual property rights has been rising issues in China. First step to solve the problem is realize there is one. It is critical to recognize which elements are violating IPR. Basic systematic error of IPR and counterfeit culture in China are main factors for the obstacles. Current state of the world’s counterfeit goods market â€Å"Carratu International estimates that the global counterfeit market, which already accounts for 9% of world tradeRead MoreChina s Second Largest Economy2291 Words   |  10 Pageson year growth rate of approximately 9.4%. It is still growing faster than developed countries. It is having largest foreign currency reserve of over $ 3 trillion results of trade surplus. China is increasingly playing an important and influential role in global economy. Enlarged and affluent middle class with approaching 1.3 billion potential customer base in china attracted Multinational corporations operate in china. In 2014, China, with a year on year increase of 3% and $128 Billion both financialRead MoreEssay Software Piracy beyond the Street Corner2431 Words   |  10 Pagesannounced that it had suspended the lawsuit against Huawei in favor of independently reviewing Huawei’s products. As of the writing of this paper, Cisco had suspended the lawsuit again and did not expect a conclus ion until July 2004. II. What Role do Cultural Ethics Play in this Case? The Cisco-Huawei lawsuit attracted media attention world-wide. The Western opinion regarding this case was that this would set an example for the world that Intellectual Property rights will be fiercely upheldRead MoreRisk of Doing Business in China9304 Words   |  38 Pages Risks in Doing Business in China E Y China Key Points For multinational companies, China’s market has started to come of age. Despite the opportunities along with China’s WTO entry and opening up, doing business in China remains very challenging at the operational level for MNCs. Regulatory Risks Managing the regulatory environment remains a real issue for foreign firms operating in China. They have to learn how to deal with red tape, â€Å"guanxi (relationship)†Read MoreCopyright Protection on Internet9657 Words   |  39 Pagestechnology and enriching the world of the arts. WIPO plays an important role in enhancing the quality and enjoyment of life, as well as creating real wealth for nations. Intellectual Property is one of the most important aspects of the WTO regime and it has far reaching implications. Agreement of Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights - better known as TRIPs- to which India is a signatory, is an integral part of WTO and it will have an enormous impact on Indian business and trade partnershipsRead More Software Patents, Copyright, and Piracy Issues in India Essay1561 Words   |  7 Pages and analyses the economic benefits of reducing piracy and the ethical issues of piracy. Overview of Patent, Copyright and Cyber Laws The protection regarding Intellectual Property Rights differs from country to country. Beginning with GATT, WTO and TRIPS (Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights) the economic focus of International trade and global policy has progressively moved from the tariff protection of goods to Protection of Intellectual Property. The Protection of IntellectualRead MoreImpact Of Trade Policies On Trade Patterns Between Usa And China2160 Words   |  9 PagesThe primary purpose of this paper is to reflect the trade patterns of the two countries- USA and China and illustrate various trade policies practiced by them. It also shows evidence that supports the argument that trade policies play a significant role in determining a country’s trade performances and balance of payments. It is important to study the impact of policies so that the main areas of issues in the economy can be understood and the imbalances in trade can be thoroughly checked by the government

The Negative Effects of Television on Children in Society...

An estimated one billion television sets have been sold in North America, and on average, children watch 28 hours per week. The effect of television creates negative development in children. Television is one of the biggest contributions to the growing amount of obese children in North America. The amount of glorified violence in today’s society can be attributed to children watching high rated television shows. Many young children are involved in promiscuous behaviour. This might be a result of what they had seen on a television program. A good deal of advertising companies advertise on children’s networks, because children are the easiest targets to be manipulated into their product. Television is not the only contributor to negative†¦show more content†¦(The negative affects of television on children) Some families use television to support family time and to support relaxation, but these can be achieved in a more active way. Children need to be more activ e not sit in front of the television all day. If children became more active obesity rates would go down. Therefore other health problems would go down too. There is an exasperating amount of valance committed by young children, many of this committed are a re-enactment of what they have seen on television. This is because children have difficulties telling fantasy apart from reality. â€Å"By the age of 16 children have observed 100,000 violent acts and 33,000 murdersâ€Å". (Wattermann) Children have three potential responses to media violins. One responses is increased fear, also know as a mean and scary world. This mean that children are more likely to be portrayed by violence or a victim of violins as seen they have seen on television. Another response could be desensitization to real-life violence. The most violent shows are children’s cartoons, but in cartoons violence is betrayed as hummer. Cartoon violence (hummer) has no consequences shown, as a result children re-enact a seen and get punished for their actions. On the cartoon the carters never get punished for the violent act their had committed, so as a result children think they can do the same. The last response could be increased aggressive behaviour, this is geared to younger children who couldShow MoreRelatedTelevision And Its Impact On Children s Lifestyle1742 Words   |  7 Pagesinternet coverage, increased radio frequencies, and digital television coverage. Given the relatively cheap but wide coverage and in depth analysis of news and other programs, uses of television continue to rise. High numbers of populations enjoy wide television coverage at low cost. Due to this reason, the prevalence of television as a news and lifestyle programmer in the society continues to rise. Increasing the society’s access to television services is an important factor in developing educationalRead MoreEssay on Negative Effects of Tv on Family Life1130 Words   |  5 PagesNegative Effects of TV The television has many effects on family life and the individual, causing family bonds to unravel and the individual to become naà ¯ve of their surroundings. The TV keeps one hooked for hours on end, causing family relationships to diminish and personal relationships to weaken. Not only does the TV seem to be a good alternative to conversations and interactions amongst one another, but it also helps to create a gap between the fictional world of TV and reality. Since theRead MoreThe Effects Of Television On Today s Society1550 Words   |  7 PagesTelevision has greatly evolved since the 1950s, and has become a part of most American households over the years. Today’s society has turned to television for a variety of purposes including; entertainment, intellectual growth, and as a way to stay updated with what is going on in our society. While these seem like all positive aspects that have come with the progression of television, there are also negative components that have a direct affect on today’s society. Therefore this paper will discussRead MoreDesensitization From Lack Of Discretion1614 Words   |  7 Pagesinnocence of our children is at risk. It is the innocence of our children that we are going to take a closer look at. What part does uncensored media play in the desensitization of our youth? Why should we be concerned about this issue? What are the immediate implications of immoral media in our children’s lives? How does it affect our adolescence? Does all this play a part in how we prosper as adults? The media left uncensored has lasting negative psychological effects on our children which in turnRead MoreBad Influence of Mass Media on Kids1499 Words   |  6 Pagesfewer hours with their children. As a result, outside influences have greater access and influence over our children than ever before. The internet and the media are bringing the outside world into your home; your childs peers; the influences on children from movies and the music they listen to are growing in importance and influence every day, the negative effects of television violence to children, negative effects marijuana, cigarettesRead MoreMedia and Its Affects1514 Words   |  7 Pages Entertainment and Social Media and their effects A nation like America is an example, of a country that has developed in terms of entertainment (Pearson 2). It is one of the countries that has got and has produced some of the greatest entertainers. The country is one of the leading producers of entertainment in the planet. In addition, it is one of the nations that there is a greater influence of entertainment on the younger generation. The effects of entertainment on the younger generationRead More Television and Society Essay763 Words   |  4 PagesTelevision and Society In Marie Winn’s Essay â€Å"Television: The Plug In Drug,† she states, â€Å"Television’s contribution to family life has been an equivocal one.† Winn focuses on the issue of televisions influence in the lives of American families. Her emphasis is on the mediums influence on children. Although she makes a strong case for the negative influence of television, she fails to consider all of the benefits television has brought to American families. On its own, the television is neitherRead More Media Violence and Its Effects Essay709 Words   |  3 PagesImagine one day you lost your television. You lost your favorite talk show, your CNN, your favorite cartoon and all of your connections to the whole world. Throughout decades, media have became one of the most powerful weapons in the world. As time passed, more and more varieties of media were shown, like television, magazines, and internet. From reporting the news to persuading us to buy certain products, med ia became the only connection between people and the world. But violence in media is shownRead MoreEng 1011630 Words   |  7 PagesViolence in Music Videos and Music Lyrics has a negative impact on children. Music videos that expose profanity and sexuality are inappropriate and leave a negative impression on young children. Violence in music videos can cause health problem. Music videos that promote negative lyrics are affecting young children. Music lyrics with vulgar languages affect the development and well-being of young children. For example, the study author (Stone, 2009) found â€Å"that music with explicit referencesRead MoreThe Negative Effects Of Television1297 Words   |  6 PagesTelevision has been a means of entertainment, a way to learn new things, a means in which people can explore the world, and learn about other cultures for many years. Children watch television approximately three to four hours a day on average. By their teenage years, they will have watched more television than their time spent in school. The content watched and the excessive time spent in front a TV during early childhood can prove to have negative effects later in their lives. There has to be a

Role of Education in Minimizing Audit Expectation - Free Samples

Question: Discuss about the Role of Education in Minimizing Audit Expectation. Answer: Introduction The key role of this paper is to evaluate the risks that are related to any company that functions in the economy. This paper has therefore looked to concentrate on Telstra Corporations Ltd. Telstra is the new company that has appointed us in order to assess their risks and their financials that are associated with them. The examination and the evaluation of the annual report of Telstra Corporations Ltd is helpful in explaining and addressing the risks of the organization and the actions that can be recommended to them according to the results obtained from the assessment. Inherent Risks and Assertions Risks Details Assertions and Impacted Accounts of Business Audit procedure The company has outlaid their operational activities that is beyond their financial capability Telstra has their operational activities way over their financial capacity and they have been undertaking strategies with the help of which the company can expand their business (Telstra.com.au 2018). The revenue of the company has not been increasing significantly but the actions that have been taken can lead to risks and bankruptcy for the company. The assertions are inclusive of: Accuracy Reliability Precision Operational activities of the company. Impact on Accounting books Cash Account Account Receivables Bad Debts Account Revenue Account The audit process of the company will assess the financial activities of the company and thereby understand the losses that have been taking place in various accounts and thereby keep a record about it so that it can be evaluated. The fall in the level of profits due to a rise in the collective losses The annual report has indicated that there has been a fall in the profit of the organization in the year 2017 in accordance to the previous year and the level of collective losses has been significantly higher. Assertions Relevance Materiality Impact on the books of accounts Bad Debt Account Profit Account The process of auditing is inclusive of an explained assessment of the losses that have been incurred which have been recorded. The accuracy and the effectiveness of the management will even be reviewed. Investigation of the commitments towards the expenditure Telstra has a huge amount of expense that is associated with the establishment of the towers with the help of which there can be an improvement of their networks (Telstra.com.au 2018). This amount has not been addressed in the financial statement. The amount that has been invested on the development of the network towers is not highlighted in the annual report and this recorded in the notes to the account. Assertions Materiality Accountability Relevance Impact on the Books of Accounts Expenditure Account Account Receivable Sales Account Statement of Profit and Loss The process of auditing will include the evaluation of the costs of the firm on these activities and the characteristics and contracts of the activities will even be ensured (Kend et al., 2014). The figure that is addressed in the annual report has importance and hence the value is of the network development amount and therefore this amount has to be recorded (William Jr et al., 2016). The auditor even needs to make sure that these activities are in nature authentic. Deferred Tax According to the annual report, the company deferred tax assets are utilized in order to write off for the deferred tax liabilities (Telstra.com.au 2018). Assertions Write off Timing Accuracy Segmentation Impact on the Books of Account Balance Sheet Income Statement There has been estimation that the judgment that has been confronted by the management that is associated to the projection of the taxable profit of the firm along with assessment of the processes and the mechanisms that is utilized by the management for the estimation of the computation. Ratio Analysis Particulars Ratio kind 2017 2016 Difference Risk Financial Ratio Current Ratio 0.86 1.02 -0.16 Low Quick Ratio 0.70 0.91 -0.21 Low Profitability Ratio Return on Equity 25.59 38.57 -12.98 High Solvency Ratio Debt to Equity Ratio 1.02 0.92 0.1 Low Current Ratio The current ratio of Telstra Corporations Ltd for the current year indicates that it has not been able to take care of the liquidity needs effectively. The fall in the current ratio indicates that the company has been unable to reduce their current liability and the fall in the quick ratio addresses the same thing. The current ratio in certain cases becomes the quick ratio if there is unavailability of stock in the balance sheet of the organization. The quick ratio of Telstra addresses that the firm has been unable to satisfy the requirement of liquidity and has even been unable to handle their operating costs and operations effectively. The suitable current ratio for any organization is 1:1 which indicates that there exists an equivalency in the current asset and liabilities (Kend, Basioudis 2017). Return on Equity The figures of return on equity have indicated that Telstra has been able to pay their dividends to the shareholders during the year 2016 and 2017. However, the amount of dividend has fallen in the year 2017 in accordance to the previous year. The organization has faced losses in 2017, which has been reflected in the balance sheet of the organization. The loss of Telstra has increased from the last year and this is the main cause for the return on falling by a significant margin. The issue cannot be developed from the mindset of the firm as in such cases the company would be facing problems in the coming time. The risk factor for the organization is high if the return on equity is regarded as a standard of performance with the aspect of the shareholders (Waldron, 2016). Debt to Equity Ratio The risk factor for debt to equity is low and the figure has increased in 2017 from 2016. It indicates that the capital framework of Telstra is more debt based than equity. This indicates that the company is reliant on leverage. The capital structure of Telstra comprises mainly of debts and this has been indicated in the balance sheet of the firm in the annual report. Areas of Problem for Telstra Identified areas of concern Explanations Impacts on the books of accounts Audit Procedure Current Ratio The current ratio of Telstra is not too effective even though the company has a proper liquidity scenario and Telstra has the ability to satisfy the need for liquidity. The key factor has been due to the fact that the company has been able to minimize their current liabilities from the last year. It is known that the effective current ratio of a firm is 1:1. Cash and its equivalent Prepaid expenses Accounts Receivable Accounts Payable Interest payable Income Tax that is payable The company records need to be examined in order record any kind of discrepancies from the management (Knechel, Salterio 2016). The cash records are required to be assessed effectively. Return on Equity The amount of dividend the company has paid has fallen with respect to the previous year and therefore has not been able to satisfy the outlook of the shareholders with respect to the amount of dividends. Telstra has been incurring losses and this is indicated in the balance sheet. Sales Account Asset Balance Sheet It is the duty of the auditor is to examine the timings and the dates of each and every transaction of the firm and making sure that effective examinations have been made (Shah et al., 2017). Debt to equity ratio The debt to equity has increased in this year from the previous year and this is indicates that the capital structure of Telstra is more debt based that equity. This explains that the company does rely on the leverage. Revenue Payables Provisions It is the duty of the auditor to examine the records of the provisions and payables and the relevancy of the same. Recommendations The suggestions that can be given to Telstra Corporations Ltd in order to develop their business framework include constructing an effective internal control mechanism so that the management can monitor and manage the internal processes of the business. Telstra even needs to maintain a record of the costs for the development of the network towers in the books of accounts as this can have an influence on the decisions of the investors. Telstra can even undertake a frequent assessment of the inventories and even the tower construction sites so that the operations can be examined (Ihendinihu, Robert 2014). Telstra even has to undertake an effective knowledge about the framework of the deferred tax and the process with the help of which it can be written off and needs to be declared in the annual report. Conclusion The discussions that have been made in this paper addresses that the key audit issues of Telstra is dependent on the decisions of the auditor. The audit committee has less amount of obligations and the selection of a skilled external auditor who will look into the perspective of the company in accordance to fairness that is seen in the audit report. The report therefore explains the processes that can be incorporated by the administration in order to make the business more efficient. Reference Birkey, R. N., Michelon, G., Patten, D. M., Sankara, J. (2016, September). Does assurance on CSR reporting enhance environmental reputation? An examination in the US context. In Accounting Forum(Vol. 40, No. 3, pp. 143-152). Elsevier. Chambers, A. D., Odar, M. (2015). A new vision for internal audit.Managerial Auditing Journal,30(1), 34-55. Cohen, J. R., Simnett, R. (2014). CSR and assurance services: A research agenda.Auditing: A Journal of Practice Theory,34(1), 59-74. Edgley, C., Jones, M. J., Atkins, J. (2015). The adoption of the materiality concept in social and environmental reporting assurance: A field study approach.The British Accounting Review,47(1), 1-18. Ihendinihu, J. U., Robert, S. N. (2014). Role of Audit Education in Minimizing Audit Expectation Gap (AEG) in Nigeria.International Journal of Business and Management,9(2), 203. Kend, M., Basioudis, I. (2017). Reforms to the Market for Audit and Assurance Services in the Period after the Global Financial Crisis: Evidence from the UK.Australian Accounting Review. Kend, M., Houghton, K. A., Jubb, C. (2014). Competition issues in the market for audit and assurance services: are the concerns justified?.Australian Accounting Review,24(4), 313-320. Knechel, W. R., Salterio, S. E. (2016).Auditing: Assurance and risk. Taylor Francis. Shah, N., Reintjes, F., Courtney, M., Klarenbach, S. W., Ye, F., Schick-Makaroff, K., ... Pauly, R. P. (2017). Quality assurance audit of technique failure and 90-day mortality after program discharge in a Canadian home hemodialysis program.Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, CJN-00140117. Telstra - mobile phones, prepaid phones, broadband, internet, home phones, business phones. (2018).Telstra.com.au. Retrieved 25 January 2018, from https://www.telstra.com.au/ Waldron, M. (2016). The Future of Audit.CFA Institute Magazine,27(3), 55-55. William Jr, M., Glover, S., Prawitt, D. (2016).Auditing and assurance services: A systematic approach. McGraw-Hill Education.

Summary of The Kite Runner Research Paper Example

Summary of The Kite Runner Paper The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini tells a story about two boys, Amir, a Pashtun boy and a son of a wealthy business man and Hussan, a young Hazara boy that was his servant but more importantly his best friend. In their homeland of Kabul Afghanistan they face many challenges that test their friendship and loyalty to one another. Although Amir tries to put his memories of his cowardly actions of his childhood in the back of his head he can never escape it. Amir finally has the opportunity for redemption when Rahim calls him to come back to Kabul and says â€Å"There is a way to be good again.†(2) Rahim, Amir’s family friend tells him and makes him realize that he has the opportunity to redeem himself from when he was younger. He has that thought in his mind of how he can redeem himself for being a coward when he was younger and fill a void of helplessness. He is hesitant at first because he didn’t know that Hassan was actually his brother and that the boy he needs to rescue was Hassan’s son. To make up for his childhood, he sets out to rescue his nephew Sarab from the harsh hardships of the Taliban ran city of Kabul. Amir and Hassan share a strong bond of friendship and loyalty towards one another that it shapes them to who they will become as adults. Their childhood starts off in Amir house where â€Å"the poplar trees lines the redbrick driveway, which led to a part of wrought-iron gates. They in turn opened onto and extension of the driveway into my father’s estate. The house sat on the left of the brick path, the backyard at the end of it.† (4) this is where the two kids would spend most of their childhood playing and hanging out. Amir and his father had one of the nicest houses in Kubal because of the man that he was. Although Amir was Pashtun and Hassan was a Hazara and everyone looked at the Hazara people at inferior Amir didn’t see it like that because they were kids. We will write a custom essay sample on Summary of The Kite Runner specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Summary of The Kite Runner specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Summary of The Kite Runner specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer

Power Why Some People Have It

Power Why Some People Have It Power is a subject at the place of work that each person is aware of but it rarely features in most conversations. As such, Pfeffer does a great job in disclosing ways of succeeding and exercising power in the real world in this book.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Power: Why Some People Have It-and Others Dont by Jeffrey Pfeffer specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Pfeffer argues that most of the time, people tend to pay less attention on the development of their influence, and eventually their power, and this is what differentiates the winners from the losers. The well researched findings that he puts across correlates with some topics from the Custom Business Resources textbook. Geert Holfstedes studies inform us about the modes of behavior of other cultures so as to improve our ability of interacting with them and if the information is comprehended as it should be, this can lead to successful interpersonal relation ships that is free from frustrations. Similarly, in the book Power, Pfeffer, a Stanford professor, points out that ones quest for power is not a solo act. For someone to exert influence favorably, he or she needs to incorporate a lot of people in his or her power grab. And this can only be achieved by having successful interpersonal relationships, according to Geert Hofstede. The social responsibility of organizations obliges them to carry out activities that are advantageous to the society as a whole and they can do this either passively, by not undertaking socially dangerous activities, or actively, by participating in socially beneficial activities. In the same way, Pfeffer indicates that power is a compulsion that is not only advantageous to a person, but is also advantageous for the advancement of the goals of a company and those of the society as a whole. Ethics is an ingredient that makes organizations to undertake socially responsible actions and it assists in determining ho w the values and decisions of an organization influence the various stakeholder groups. In this regard, Pfeffer posits that powerful people who strive for fairness and justice can enhance the development of organizations. However, to achieve this, one must strive to perfect his or her reputations and conduct, without having to work hard. Some of the aspects of human resource management include planning and allocating resources, giving direction, vision, and objectives to the employees, creating a favorable working environment for the employees, and providing opportunities for personal development.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More These aspects correlate with the idea that Pfeffer brings forward that the lack of a realistic understanding is what makes some individuals to be victorious than others. When an organization fails to implement these aspects of human resour ce management, a â€Å"just-world phenomenon† crops in and the organization cannot adequately fulfill the demands of the workforce. In any organization, change is an unavoidable occurrence and for the process to be successful, every change and innovation initiatives should be carefully implemented. On the other hand, Pfeffer points out that power is an instrumental tool that can be used in improving the health as well as the wealth of an individual. However, it is of essence to note that this can only happen when whatever changes that takes place are managed appropriately and in order. In today’s busy work environment, all employees experience work-related stresses that can impair their productivity if not handled in good time. However, Pfeffer points out that this cannot be the situation when employees have power. This power will make them to make decisions that will avoid the work-related stresses. For example, he points out that employees should â€Å"worry about t he relationship they have with their bosses at least as much as they worry about your job performance† (para. 9). Leadership is an essential management skill that entails providing the employees with direction, planning, evaluation, motivation, and setting the example. Therefore, in the absence of effective leadership, an organization cannot adequately meet its objectives. On leadership, Pfeffer goes contrary to the popular notion that is being promoted by many ubiquitous leadership literatures that for one to gain power, he or she has to ‘gloss over the power plays.† Therefore, as a leader, one ought to possess the ability to motivate the employees towards a common goal, without having to ‘gloss over’ his or her influence. In an organization, the employees should be able to trust themselves and the management should also be able to trust the employees that they are able to accomplish the assigned tasks. In absence of this, disagreements can erupt. In emphasizing this aspect, Pfeffer notes, â€Å"therefore, your first responsibility is to ensure that those at higher levels in your company know what you are accomplishing. And the best way to ensure they know what you are achieving is to tell them so that they can trust you† (para. 4). Lastly, group development involves a series of stages in which a group is established with an intention of fulfilling a particular objective in an organization. On this, Pfeffer points out that â€Å"no one is going to perform equally well on all the dimensions of their working in a group. What you can do is consistently emphasize those aspects on which you do well in a group† (para. 5).Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Power: Why Some People Have It-and Others Dont by Jeffrey Pfeffer specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Pfeffer, Jeffrey. â€Å"Power: Why Some People Have Itand Others Dont.† Amazon Kindle. Amazon, I nc., 2010. Web. https://www.amazon.com/

PARCC Practice Tests Where to Find and How to Use Them

PARCC Practice Tests Where to Find and How to Use Them SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips If you (or your child) are worried about preparing for an upcoming PARCC exam, official practice tests are the best way to study. Here, we’ll direct you to these PARCC practice materials. We’ll also explain how to use these tests (and other resources at your disposal) if you want to do well on an upcoming PARCC exam. What Is PARCC? PARCC is a of a group of states that administers standardized exams to students in grades 3-11. These exams are designed to assess college and career readiness. PARCC exam results help teachers, schools, and districts track student performance. At an individual level, these results may help teachers customize instruction for students who may need extra help. The program itself is relatively new, so students and parents alike may have questions about what the tests are like. For more info about PARCC, check out ourin-depth post on the test content. Where to Find PARCC Practice Tests Like I mentioned, PARCC is still pretty new, so there aren’t a ton of practice materials available. Because different tests are administered at each grade level (3-11), it’s difficult to put together a wealth of practice tests for each group of students. In addition, PARCC practice tests aren’t meant to act as admissions exams (like the SAT or the ACT) - they’re state exams meant to measure competency and progress, mostly at the aggregate level. This means that test prep companies are less motivated to come up with unofficial practice materials. Followingare links to all available official practice tests and answer keys. The PARCC exams are usually administered on a computer, so for the most realistic testing experience, select the Computer-Based Practice Tests under the tab for each grade (if you choose to download a paper version, that’s fine - just download the corresponding paper test answer key). Make sure you’re selecting practice tests for End-of-Year exams for the appropriate grade level. English practice testsandanswer keys Math practice testsandanswer keys How These Will Help You Prepare for the PARCC Exam A big part of preparing for any standardized test is familiarizing yourself with test format and logistics. Taking a practice test or two should help students get more comfortable with the exam so that on test day they can focus primarily on demonstrating knowledge of content. High school students may benefit from reviewing PARCC exams for another important reason: the question types and formats are pretty similar to those on the ACT and SAT. PARCC practice tests should definitely not replace official ACT and SAT prep material, but they may make for good supplements! Why You Shouldn't Stress About Preparing for PARCC Exams Teachers and other administrators will likely stress the importance of doing well on these exams because they’re definitely an important measure of students’ progress (and they may affect how teachers and schools are evaluated). The bottom line is, however, that no student will suffer negative consequences as a result of a low PARCC score - if anything, they’ll receive extra help. Scores have no effect on GPA or, for older students, on college admissions. If you’re concerned about an upcoming PARCC exam, I encourage you to check out the practice tests listed above. In addition, however, you should speak to your teacher - he or she can speak to how you’ll learn the necessary material together in class and whether you may need extra help to prepare. Unlike for college admissions tests, it’s not just the student’s responsibility to prepare for PARCC exams. There's less to stress about than you might think! Summary Official PARCC practice testsmay be helpful for students and parents who are curious about the exams (or similar tests). Ultimately, though, PARCC exams don’t have an impact on students’ GPAs or college admissions chances - they’re primarily a measure of college and career-readiness for school districts. If you’re worried about performance on a PARCC exam, these practice tests will come in handy - just make sure to check in with your teacher about your concerns! What's Next? PARCC content is based on Common Core standards. If you want to do well on a PARCC exam, you may want to read more about the Common Core and why it matters. Looking at tests similar to the PARCC? Read more about ACT Aspireand check out available practice tests. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

ARTICLE REVIEW Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

ARTICLE REVIEW - Essay Example Something must be done. The scientists who have written this article explain their idea. What they think will be most successful at solving this problem is implementing catch share programs more widely. Catch share are transferable fishing quotas that can be used at various times, often prolonging fishing seasons. In essence, fishermen own a portion of the fish stocks in any given fishery. The main point that the authors make is that putting catch share programs into effect dramatically reduces the chances that a stock will collapse. Based on the evidence they have found, they suggest it would be a good idea for more fisheries to implement this policy. The argument made by these men seems sound. They are all credible writers and their interpretation of the data makes sense. There are a few points, however, which bear critique. To begin with, what the authors are suggesting would dramatically change the way certain fisheries have been operating. By giving fishermen a private property right in the fishery, fisheries may become exclusively owned by rich corporations. There may be no way for smaller fishermen to get involved in a fishery if all the stock is privately owned by companies. Another difficult question that their policy brings up is how these rights in stocks are to be distributed.

Create a profile of a leader (Martin L. King). Create an assignment Essay

Create a profile of a leader (Martin L. King). Create an assignment that investigates key leadership practices and relationships - Essay Example He spoke to other leaders and shared with them knowledge that he was able to pull into his own public leadership in order to enhance the effectiveness of his movement. The challenges that he faced were met with the preparation that he had made towards becoming an effective leader, although he had expected to lead a church rather than a nation. King was a well educated man who focused a portion of his education on the oratory aspects of leadership. He learned to become an effective speaker, exploiting his own natural ability to deliver a public message. His core method of leadership was in focusing his charismatic talents so that his followers believed in his message. Biography of King Martin Luther King Jr. was born on January 14, 1929 to Reverend Martin Luther King and his wife Alberta in Atlanta, Georgia within the United States. At the age of fifteen, Martin Luther King Jr. entered Morehouse College in Atlanta before graduating from high school where he studied sociology. At the a ge of nineteen in 1948 he finished his undergraduate Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology and became a minister. In 1951, King graduated with a second Bachelor of Arts degree in divinity before going on to study systematic theology as a graduate student at Boston University. He married Coretta Scott in Marion, Alabama in 1953 before being appointed a minister as a pastor to Dextor Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery Alabama. In 1955, King received his doctorate in systemic theology from Boston University, giving him the title of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr (Bruns, 2006, p. xii). King rose to national prominence when he was made the spokesperson for the Montgomery bus boycott. The boycott started 1955 when Rosa Parks refused to move to the back of the bus, a white bus driving insisting that she make the move as African Americans were segregated from seating at the front which was reserved for Caucasians. The boycott lasted for more than a year, financially crippling the public transpor tation of the city as African American users were the larger portion of the public transportation using public. The organisation that was created to support the movement was the Montgomery Improvement Association of which King was elected president. In 1956, the Supreme Court ruled that segregation was not a legal and this victory provided King a platform of success from which to further his intentions to abolish segregation policies and discrimination in the United States. In January of 1957, King formed the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in order to provide a resource for organized protests for civil rights (Bruns, 2006, p. xii). At this point, King’s career begins to move at a quick pace, his public accomplishments adding up to a powerful momentum as a leader, his choices promoting larger and larger successes that were filled with activity and progress towards civil rights. He was given audience by prominent leaders and taken seriously for the strength of the num bers of his followers, creating a movement that would eventually find success in abolishing legal separation between the rights of Caucasians and the rights of African Americans. He met with President Eisenhower in June of 1958 and Mahatma Gandhi in

Toyota Prius Hybrid Marketing Plan Essay Example for Free

Toyota Prius Hybrid Marketing Plan Essay As Americans become increasingly more concerned about global warming, many are making choices about the vehicles they drive based on fuel economy and tail pipe emissions. Hybrid sales have increased 313% from 84,199 cars in 2004, to 347,102 in 2007. Driving a hybrid might make people feel better for helping the environment, but is it really better for our planet? The answer it seems, is, â€Å"it depends. † It depends on who is doing the evaluating and what the criteria are. When I started this analysis, I expected to find overwhelming evidence in favor of one category or another. Instead what I found was a lot of confusing information. The confusion arose because different groups focused on different aspects. Most analysis focused either on economics, (i. e. how much money the owner would save over time) or consumption, (i. e. how many gallons of fuel the car would consume over its useful life), but in nearly all cases, the analysis was confined to the period of time during which the car would be driven. What went into making the car and what happens to it after it’s been abandoned by its owners was largely ignored, and I suspect it’s ignored because it’s so hard to evaluate. I found this to be a very consistent theme in the rating systems of all products I’ve researched. Even Energy Star, which ranks household appliances, focuses on energy consumption during use, but the energy to produce, estimated useful life and eventual disposal, is largely ignored. This leads to an incomplete and sometimes inconsistent perspective to consumers. One organization that focuses on the full life cycle analysis of automobiles is CNW Marketing in Bandon, Oregon. Founded in 1984, CNW is a for profit market research company that specializes in the automotive industry. In 2001, they pioneered a life cycle analysis of the auto industry in an annual report they called, â€Å"Dust to Dust†. 2 In this report, CNW collected data on the energy consumed to plan, build, sell, drive and eventually dispose of a vehicle. They followed it from initial concept to the junk yard. They even took into consideration small details such as the distance from manufacturing plant to dealership, the average distances between employees’ homes and the factory where the cars were built. They also considered the method of transportation employees take to get to work, (i. e if mass transit was available and utilized). Worth noting is that CNW excluded economics from their analysis. The economic cost to build a car and run and maintain it was completely ignored. Also ignored were the environmental impacts of materials. If one car required less energy to produce but incorporated hazardous substances, it scored better than a car that required more energy but used benign materials. CNW focused strictly on energy consumption. For 2007, 284 cars were evaluated. The average energy rating for all cars was 2. 54 per mile. The car with the highest energy cost was the Mercedes Maybach, with an energy factor of 15.97. The car with the lowest energy cost was the Mercedes Smart Car, with a score of 0. 58. Worth noting was the average for all hybrids was 3. 41, which was significantly worse than the average. The best in the hybrid group was the Toyota Prius which scored 2. 19. According to their analysis, hybrid vehicles cost more in terms of overall energy consumed than conventional cars. One of the reasons hybrids score so poorly is because of their complexity to manufacture, repair, replace, and dispose of batteries and electric motors, (which exists in addition to a conventional engine). Hybrids are also more difficult to recycle. For example, the Honda Accord hybrid scored 4. 23, but the regular non hybrid Accord with a conventional gasoline engine scored a 1. 96. Over the course of its lifetime, the Accord hybrid is expected to consume more than twice the energy of it non-hybrid sibling. The non hybrid has a 2. 4 liter, four cylinder motor rated at 166 horsepower. The hybrid has a 3. 0 liter, six cylinder engine rated at 255 horsepower. The hybrid also has an additional electric motor and batteries. The hybrid achieves 29 miles per gallon in the city and 37 miles per 3 gallon highway as compared to 25 in the city and 35 on the highway for the non hybrid. The hybrid version cost almost $10,000 more than the non-hybrid. Again, economics were not considered in the study, but the price alone should give some indication of the cars increased complexity. In 2008, Honda abandoned manufacture of the Accord Hybrid. The Backlash.. CNW’s automotive research was sold largely to the auto industry executives and companies that supply the auto industry. It wasn’t until 2005, when word got out that CNW’s annual â€Å"Dust to Dust† report listed the Hummer H3 as reportedly â€Å"better for the environment† than the Toyota Prius, that the company gained widespread attention. Environmentalists were outraged. They demanded that the details of the analysis be made public for further scrutiny. CNW is a for-profit organization that charges a fee for their analysis. They believed that publishing their calculations would open them up to competition they would rather avoid. They did disclose some information to the general public and their critics. CNW also pointed out that they never said the Hummer was better for the environment, only that it would consume less energy from a cradle to grave perspective. In fairness to CNW’s critics, the life cycle energy rating is largely dependent on the products useful life. The Hummer was assumed to have a useful life of 200,000 miles, whereas the Prius was assumed to have a useful life of only 109,000 miles. The environmentalists believed that these â€Å"projected life cycle miles† were unsubstantiated and pointed out that a small change in miles can have a huge effect on the overall energy rating. CNW countered that their mileage were real world estimates based on actual driving conditions and interviews with owners. After interviewing many Prius owners, CNW determined that the average miles driven were only 6,700 per year. This equated to a useful life of just over 16 years, which CNW pointed out exceeded Toyota’s life expectancy for the Prius’ batteries, which is between 10 and 15 years. 4 The same criticism was noted for the Honda Accord as well. The hybrid Accord was assumed to have a useful life of 117,000 miles, whereas the non hybrid Accord had a useful life of 209,000 miles. Change the miles and the ratings can change quite dramatically. CNW continues to point out that if what is important to consumers is fuel economy and tail pipe emissions, then hybrids do make sense during their useful life, but taking into consideration the â€Å"bigger picture†, hybrids don’t measure up where most consumers think they should. Many consumers perceive sport utility vehicles as â€Å"bad† because of their lower fuel economy and perceived inefficiency as a method of transportation, but many of these vehicles are easy to produce, have a long useful life and are easy to dissemble / recycle. So, their impact on the environment is not as bad as originally thought. CNW also points out that like many other things, the simplest design is often the best design and the cars that score best on CNW’s list are simple, low technology cars, that have long useful lives. Keep in mind that CNW ignored economics and the environmental impact of materials used. Had CNW incorporated an auto manufacturer’s monetary investment of profits into green technology versus another’s deliberate use of hazardous materials, it would have made the analysis incredibly complicated. If anything, the controversy surrounding CNW’s report illustrates out how difficult it is to assess the overall green nature of any product. Energy Life Cycle Assessment – CNW’s 10 Most Efficient versus Hybrids Top 10 Most Efficient Cars 2007 Models Dust to Dust Per Mile Mercedes SMART 0. 583 Saturn Ion 0. 621 Ford Focus 0. 621 Chevy Cavalier 0. 655 Jeep Wrangler 0. 656 Scion xB 0. 683 Chevy Aveo 0. 693 Scion xA 0. 713 Pontiac Sunfire 0. 732 Toyota Corolla 0. 748 Industry Average All Models 2. 538 All Hybrids 2007 Models Dust to Dust Per Mile Toyota Prius 2. 191 Ford Escape Hybrid 2. 747 Honda Civic Hybrid 2. 943 Toyota Camry Hybrid 3. 042 Toyota Highlander Hybrid 3. 078 Ford Mercury Mariner Hybrid 3. 412 Honda Accord Hybrid 4. 228 Lexus GS450h 4. 365 Lexus RX400h 4. 661 Hybrid Average 3. 407 5 The Electric Movement. In 2010, Chevrolet is expected to introduce the Volt, a car that can be recharged like a cell phone and travel 40 miles on electricity before using any fuel. GM hopes that those with short commutes can use the car solely on battery power. Again, what’s not taken into consideration is the â€Å"bigger picture† of where the electricity comes from. Just because it appears clean when it’s recharging, doesn’t mean that things aren’t getting dirty somewhere else. A study in 2003 by the Institute for Lifecycle of Assessment determined that if an electric vehicle is recharged via a power plant that uses coal as its primary fuel source, than the impact to the environment would be no better than a conventional gasoline engine. According to the US Department of Energy, in 2006, the US derived 49% of its total electrical power from coal. The state of Pennsylvania derived 56% of its electrical power from coal. Again, these are both averages for both the US and the state of Pennsylvania. Energy source may differ by location within a state. I live in Vineland, New Jersey. Vineland has its own power utility. It is 100% coal fired. Choices, Choices Everywhere Gas? Electric? Ethanol? Alcohol? Diesel? Hybrid? With all the choices and incomplete information available to consumers, which choice is best, (and practical), for consumers who are interested in a sustainable energy source that minimizes harm to the planet? Other, 2. 1% Hy dro Electric, 1. 3% Nuclear, 34. 4% Natural Gas, 6. 2% Coal, 56. 0% Pennsylvania Energy by Source Other, 4. 5% Hydro Electric, 7. 1% Nuclear, 19. 4% Natural Gas, 20. 0% Coal, 49. 0% U. S. Energy by Source 6 In my personal opinion, the best energy choice for transportation that is currently available is biodiesel. Biodiesel is a renewable fuel manufactured from vegetable oils, animal fats and recycled cooking oils. It can be burned in any current vehicle with a diesel engine as a replacement to conventional petroleum based diesel fuel. To make biodiesel, (see above), a catalyst, (Sodium Hydroxide), is used to mix methanol and vegetable oil to separate the glycerin. The end result is mainly a mixture of biodiesel and glycerin, with a small amount of methanol and fertilizer. The fertilizer is used in agricultural production. The methanol is returned back to the process input. The glycerin is a byproduct used in the manufacture of soaps and cosmetics. Making biodiesel may seem complicated, but it is not, and can be done by anyone with limited knowledge of chemistry. Vegetable oils can be new or used and purchased from a grocery store or taken for free as waste oil from most restaurants. Methanol is made from methane, a naturally occurring chemical in the atmosphere that is caused when bacteria break down organic compounds. Methanol is also a commonly used racing fuel and can be purchased in bulk from fuel suppliers. The catalyst, Sodium Hydroxide, is the technical name for lye. Lye is also a natural product that is used in the manufacture of soap. It can be purchased as a drain cleaner available in most hardware stores. Those three ingredients and a little bit of heat are all that is needed to make biodiesel. Methanol or Alcohol 12% Process Input Catalyst (Lye) 1% Vegetable Oil 87% Vegetable OilMethanol or AlcoholCatalyst (Lye) Process Output Methanol or Glycerin 9% Alcohol 4% Fertilizer 1% Biodiesel 86% BiodieselGlycerinMethanol or AlcoholFertilizer 7 Biodiesel is significantly better for the environment than conventional diesel because it is made from renewable resources and has lower emissions than petroleum diesel. It is less toxic than household table salt and biodegrades as fast as sugar. Since it can be made in the U. S. from renewable resources such as soybeans, it decreases dependence on foreign oil and helps support local farmers. Green Car. com recently gave the 2009 Green Car of the Year award to the Volkswagen Jetta Diesel, beating both hybrids and ethanol powered cars. Earlier this year, the Jetta TDI set a new Guinness World Record for lowest fuel consumption. It averaged 58. 8 miles per gallon as it traveled through 48 contiguous states. Imagine the environmental impact if the Jetta were powered by biodiesel instead of conventional diesel. The EPA estimates that if advanced diesels such as the one that powers the Jetta were used in one third of all light duty vehicles in the US, it would save almost 60 million gallons of oil per day. When the diesel engine was invented in 1890, its inventor, Rudolf Diesel, designed it to run on peanut oil. However, in the early 1900’s petroleum based fuels were considered easier and cheaper to manufacture and the diesel engine was converted to run on a petroleum based fuel, (that later became his namesake). Diesel engines utilize high compression and are inherently more energy efficient than gasoline engines. A recent analysis by RAND Corporation, a not for profit institution that studies challenges facing society, found that of the most common alternative fuels available, that a conventionally powered diesel car provides the greatest benefit to consumers and to society. They found that advanced diesel engines provide a slight edge over gas-electric hybrids and both diesels and hybrids were significantly better than ethanol, mainly due to the high cost and resource- intensive means of producing and transporting ethanol. 8 The Advantages of Biodiesel. The benefits of bio based fuels are numerous. Most notably, they are significantly less pollutive than petroleum diesel. In a study conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency in 2002, they found biodiesel to have 67% less unburned hydrocarbons, 48% less carbon monoxide, 47% less particulate matter, 100% less sulfates and 50% less ozone smog than conventional petroleum based diesel. They did however; find a 10% increase in NoX, (Nitrous Oxide), emissions. A life cycle study on Green House Gas emissions per mile by Harvard University in 2001 found that cars powered by biodiesel, (BD100), produced the lowest emissions. Another advantage to biodiesel is that it is a renewable and sustainable fuel made from plants and animal fats. So long as there is the ability to grow plants and animals, there is the opportunity to make biodiesel. Studies have also found that biodiesel has better lubricating capabilities than conventional diesel fuel, which contributes to increased engine life. Use of biodiesel reduces our reliance on foreign countries and places greater reliance on American farmers. Lastly, from a practical perspective, there is no expensive infrastructure rollout necessary to make biodiesel work. It will function in any conventional diesel 9 engine that currently uses petroleum based diesel fuel with no problems and can even be blended with petroleum diesel without harm. The Disadvantages of Biodiesel Unfortunately, biodiesel retains some of the physical characteristics of its source material, most problematic being its narrow temperature range. Most plant oils and animal fats gel or coagulate at around 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Even after processing out the glycerin, biodiesel will gel at around 32 degrees Fahrenheit, which means it can only be used in warm climates, can only be used in the summer, or if it is to be used year round, it must be blended with kerosene or diesel fuel to retain some of the latter’s cold weather capabilities. Another disadvantage to biodiesel is that it can only be used in a diesel engine. Currently, less than 2% of the cars in the U. S. have diesel engines. The majority of cars and light trucks in the U. S. are powered by gasoline. Until the diesel engine makes a comeback in the U. S passenger car market, its use is limited to large trucks and heavy equipment. Worth noting too, is that biodiesel, though significantly cleaner than petroleum diesel, is still not environmentally perfect. Until a cleaner fuel source, like hydrogen, whose emissions are water and oxygen, become commercially and practically available, this is the best that is currently available. As stated earlier, biodiesel is made from plant oils and animal fats. If farm crops are diverted from human consumption in favor of fuel production, then biodiesel can raise the prices of soy and rapseed in much the same way that ethanol increased the price of corn. However, unlike ethanol, biodiesel can be made from waste oil after it has made its way through the food supply. In this way, (and unlike ethanol), biodiesel can convert a waste product instead of decreasing a food supply. Another weakness to biodiesel is its perception as a commodity. Commodities compete solely on the basis of price. As the price of petroleum based diesel drops, biodiesel makes little to no economic sense. 10 Biodiesel is not free. Even in instances where it is made from food waste or byproducts, there is still a conversion cost and that cost often exceeds the price of petroleum diesel. At best, on a commercial scale, biodiesel is a â€Å"break even† business, which is of little interest to the investment community. Biodiesel production centers exist largely though financial assistance from the government. For this reason, almost all large scale biodiesel production centers are not-for- profit oriented, or exist solely to service municipal vehicles. Making it Personal The most successful application of biodiesel appears to come from â€Å"home brewers† – people like me who have crafted processors in their garages and basements and make biodiesel from waste vegetable oil collected from the dumpsters behind restaurants and schools. For this group, biodiesel is largely a hobby, supported by a grass roots community who are frugal, environmentally conscious, interested in renewable energy, and making a political statement. They make biodiesel in much the same way that people home brew wine or beer for personal consumption. Ironically, the only obstacle to this group seems to be the U. S. government. Uncle Sam has â€Å"green† ideas of his own. In the US, Federal and State fuel taxes combined can make up as much as 15% to 20% of the total fuel price paid at the pump. When a home brewer makes biodiesel, no road taxes are paid. There have been numerous instances of â€Å"biodieselers† being threatened by the government with fines and imprisonment. Legislation surrounding biodiesel production for home consumption is still unclear. In Conclusion Biodiesel production has increased dramatically in the past 5 years, with annual production rising from 5 million gallons in 2001 to an estimated 500 million gallons in 2007. However, this is not even a drop in the bucket when compared to the 840 million gallons of oil the U. S. consumes PER DAY! There are simply not enough plant oils and animal fats on earth to sustain the U. S. ’s 11 current level of demand. A long term solution must include some way to decrease consumption. References: †¢United States Environmental Protection Agency, A Comprehensive Analysis of Biodiesel Impacts on Exhaust Emissions, October 2002 †¢CNW Marketing Research Inc, 2007 Dust to Dust – The Energy Cost of New Vehicles from Concept to Disposal. www. cnwmr. com †¢Wall Street Journal, Volkswagen’s 2009 Jetta TDI Awarded Green Car of the Year, November 20, 2008 †¢The Rand Corporation – The Benefits and Costs of New Fuels and Engines for Cars and Light Trucks, Ryan Keefe, Jay Griffin and John Graham, November 2007, www.rand. org. †¢The Green Motorist. com, Jetta sets Guinness Record, September 29, 2008 †¢Harvard. edu, Report on Bus Alternatives, July 31, 2001 †¢The Pacific Institute – Hummer versus Prius – Dr. Peter H. Gleick, May 2007 †¢Effects of Biodiesel Blends on Vehicle Emissions, R. L. McCormick, A. Williams, J. Ireland, M. Brimhall, R. R. Hayes, October 2006 †¢Energy Information Administration – Official Energy Statistics from the US Government www. eia. doe. gov †¢www. factsonfuel. org – Gasoline Index 12.

Diary Of Anne Frank :: essays research papers

The Dairy of a Young Girl The autobiography I read "The Dairy of a Young Girl" written by Anne Frank" is about a young girl who suffered a lot in the Holocaust. Anne Frank kept a diary, which made her a very well known teenagers. She has inspired people from all over the world. Her writings explain the true feeling of being in the World War II. She kept her dairy from June 12,1942 and ended when it was discovered in August 1944. On her 13th birthday on June 12, 1942 Anne received a diary from her parents, Otto and Edith Frank. Two days later, she started writing about her thoughts. A few weeks later, Anne sister, Margot Frank received a notice from the Nazi to report for work at a labor camp. Which is called the concentration camps. On July 5th, 1942, Anne and her family moved to the "Secret Annex". It’s a secret hiding area where her father builded in back of his office. When her family hide from the Nazis, who arrested and victimized Jews, Anne took her diary everywhere she goes. She called it “Kitty,'; and the two years of spending in the Secret Annex, her diary was her friend. Eight people lived in the Secret Annex. There were the four members of the Frank family, Otto Frank, Edith Frank, Margot and Anne. Three from the Van Pels family, Herman and Auguste Van Pels and their son Peter, and an elderly named Pfeffer. The four people acted as helpers for the Frank family an d the people living in the Secret Annex. They brought them food, supplies and news. Anne and the seven people, who shared the Secret Annex, were sent to Westerbork camp. A few weeks later, they were later sent to other camps. When they were leaving from Auschwitz, Otto Frank was separated from his family. Otto Frank was in the camp infirmary and was left behind. Otto Frank tried to convince Peter to hide in the infirmary, but he was afraid. He soon found out that his wife died, but it was not until some time after returning home that he found that Margot and Anne died. Otto Frank was the only one of the 8 people from the secret annex to survive.

Marketing Plan for Maggie Essay

Promotions showcases which mode of promotion is most effective and how do consumers respond to various celebrity endorsements. Place focuses on efficiency of distribution network of Maggi Tomato Ketchup. We have also drawn out some inferences by applying various statistical tools like ‘SIGN TEST’. Towards the end we have suggested some recommendations as a group on how can we improve the marketing mix of the product. Nestle, which world knows as cautious and conservatory company is a Swiss originated 140 years old Multinational. The man at the helm is Swiss national Carlo Donati, an all inspiration and image of the company. His philosophy is ‘bottom line dictating top line’ based on delegation and decentralization. It resulted from a merger in 1905 between the Anglo-Swiss Milk Company for milk products established in 1866 by the Page Brothers in Cham, Switzerland and the Farine Lactee Henri Nestle Company set up in 1867 by Henri Nestle to provide an infant food product. The first Nestle factory to begin production in the United States was opened in Fulton, Oswego County, New York. Nestle India Ltd. (NIL), the Indian subsidiary of the global FMCG major, Nestle SA, introduced the Maggi brand in India in 1982, with its launch of Maggi 2 Minute Noodles, an instant noodles product. Nestle India’s business objective and that of its management and employees is to manufacture and market the Company’s products in such a way as to create value that can be sustained over the long term for consumers, shareholders, employees, business partners and the national economy. The product mix of Nestle India consists of milk products and baby products (42. %), beverages (29. 3 %), processed foods (14. 4 %), chocolate and confectionary (13. 8 %).

Response Essay

Response Essay In reading the three articles, â€Å"From Degrading to De-Grading† by Alfie Kohn, â€Å"And Now He is Nothing† by Michael Specter and â€Å"Dilma Rousseff† by Simon Romero my impressions of each article varies from one of unbelief to affirmation. As compelling as the ideology of not grading is, the practicality of implementation would be enormous. The assumption that Lance Armstrong is now nothing can it really be so easily dismissed? Finally, Dilma Rousseff rise to power as a right of previous wrongs remains to be seen; each writer conveying a very persuasive argument.I embrace Alfie Kohn’s ideology that by grading a student’s work one actually hinders the process of learning. Having three school-aged children myself, I see the effect grades have on their mindset. If they do not achieve an â€Å"A† they feel less than their peers. I also have seen instances where they will pick the easiest assignment or not bother to complete extra credit assignments for grading. Therefore, in this regard I do agree that grading does play a factor in their learning experience.However, the practicality of overcoming the mindset of a nation of people is a daunting task that may very well take years to persuade. As much as I may agree with Mr. Kohn’s ideology, I do not see this becoming mainstreamed within the educational system any time in the near future. His ideology would have to be fully embraced by the educational system for steps of improvement in grading students to take hold. This may very well take a grass roots effort from the parents and citizens themselves before ideology could be changed, which would take much time in educating the public on this subject.As much as I personally would love to see this type of learning be prevalent within our educational system I do not see it happening in my lifetime. One can only hope. Such as the case with Lance Armstrong, our hopes in him as a nation were dashed with the admission of doping. As with many of our athletes, it is always a disappointment when news of their achievement is eroded by one form of cheating or another. His achievements are outstanding and his passion and dedication for bicycling is inspiring, especially having overcome the dread of cancer.We are always looking to others to motivate us, or inspire us to do more than we think we are capable of doing, which is what makes his admission so painful. I agree that I was shocked by the news, but is the punishment truly warranted; to remove all seven of his Tour de France victories? I don’t believe it is warranted, neither can it be proven as he had been tested numerous times over the years and never tested positive. An admission alone is not proof enough and should not warrant such an ardent punishment. Although I agree with the writer’s disappointment I do not agree with striping him of all his wins.People are not always what you think they are. As with Dilma Rousse ff, the darling of the Brazilian government, her rags to riches story is compelling. While I applaud Ms. Rousseff’s accomplishments, it remains to be seen if she in fact will be the savior of her country or the start of its demise. Her ideology that government can fix all the economic problems by stimulating the economy with stimulus packages in my opinion is just a temporary fix. Just as we have seen in our own country with the bank bailouts and the loans to the automotive corporations has only delayed the effects of a slumped economy.The promise that better days are ahead remains exactly that, somewhere over the horizon. Do I feel that it is wrong for the government to stimulate the economy, no, but neither do I believe that the government is our savior. This world’s economy is such a delicate balancing act that anything outside of your own four walls can ultimately be your downfall. Each article evokes a different response from the wish of a complete overhaul of our educational system, to our hopes dashed by choices made by one of our star athletes, to skepticism of big brother being our fix all.As much as I agree with the ideology of De-Grading the implementation would be difficult at best. Armstrong’s rise to fame and demise is one that will be remembered for years by those for and against the ruling levied against him. Finally, everyone loves the underdog such as the case with Ms. Rousseff but it remains to be seen if her ideology of government intervention is truly the best approach for Brazil’s economic future. In conclusion, I would more than likely read more articles written by these writers because of their ability to persuade and keep the attention of the reader.

Obamas Speech 2013 essays

Obama's Speech 2013 essays On Tuesday, February 19, 2013, Barack Obama, President of the United States, presented his State of the Union Address to a joint session of the United States Congress. President Obama began the speech describing several goals that nation already reached - such as businesses having created more than six million jobs, people buying more American cars and our use of less foreign oil. Furthermore, Democrats and Republicans have been working to reduce the deficit more than $ 2.5 trillion dollars through spending cuts and raising the taxes of the wealthiest in America. Additionally, he stated that the housing market is finally healing from the recession in 2007 with the percentage of home purchases increasing close to 50%. In addition, President Obama proposed certain solutions for the economy, creating jobs, modifying taxes, etc. Beginning with a plan for deficit reduction, the President stated that both parties must work on the plan in order to reach the deficit reduction of $4 trillion dollars. He also proposed the new tax reform which could help to create more jobs and bring down the deficit. The new tax code will help small business spend more time on expanding and hiring; and also provides lower tax rates for businesses - thus, creating jobs throughout America. As the matter of fact, the President stated that: Caterpillar is bringing jobs back from Japan. Ford is bringing jobs back from Mexico. And this year, Apple will start making Macs in American again (Obama). Additionally, President Obama proposed an upgrade to our infrastructure, which would bring more jobs which would then lead to the Fix-It-First program and Partnership to Rebuild America. More importantly, he also raised the minimum wage to $9.00 an hour so we can tie the minimum living cost and eventually offer a wage that people can live on. Barack Obama also stated that we should invest every available dollar in science, innovation, clean ene...

Characteristics of Squamates Reptiles

Characteristics of Squamates Reptiles Squamates (Squamata) are the most diverse of all the reptile groups, with approximately 7400 living species. Squamates include lizards, snakes, and worm lizards. Two characteristics that unite the squamates. The first is that they shed their skin periodically. Some squamates, such as snakes, shed their skin in one piece. Other squamates, such as many lizards, shed their skin in patches. In contrast, non-squamate reptiles regenerate their scales by other means- for example, crocodiles shed a single scale at a time while turtles do not shed the scales that cover their carapace and instead add new layers from beneath. The second characteristic shared by squamates is their uniquely jointed skulls and jaws, which are both strong and flexible. The extraordinary jaw mobility of squamates enables them to open their mouths very wide and in doing so, consume large prey. Additionally, the strength of their skull and jaws provides squamates with a powerful bite grip. Squamates first appeared in the fossil record during the mid-Jurassic and probably existed before that time. The fossil record for squamates is rather sparse. Modern squamates arose about 160 million years ago, during the late Jurassic. The earliest lizard fossils are between 185 and 165 million years old. The closest living relatives of the squamates are the tuatara, followed by the crocodiles and birds. Of all living reptiles,  turtles  are the most distant relatives of the squamates. Like crocodilians, squamates are diapsids, a group of reptiles that possess two holes (or temporal fenestra) on each side of their skull. Key Characteristics The key characteristics of squamates  include: most diverse group of reptilesexceptional skull mobility Classification Squamates are classified within the following taxonomic hierarchy: Animals Chordates Vertebrates Tetrapods Reptiles Squamates Squamates are divided into the following taxonomic groups: Lizards (Lacertilia): There are more than 4,500 species of lizards alive today, making them the most diverse group of all squamates. Members of this group include iguanas, chameleons, geckos, night lizards, blind lizards, skinks, anguids, beaded lizards and many others.Snakes (Serpentes): There are about 2,900 species of snakes alive today. Members of this group include boas, colubrids, pythons, vipers, blind snakes, mole vipers, and sunbeam snakes. Snakes have no limbs but their legless nature doesnt stop them from being among the worlds most formidable reptilian predators.Worm lizards (Amphisbaenia): There are about 130 species of worm lizards alive today. Members of this group are burrowing reptiles that spend most of their life underground. Worm lizards have sturdy skulls that are well suited for digging tunnels.

Defining the Capabilities of Each Student Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Defining the Capabilities of Each Student - Essay Example Student achievement in their prospective fields could be materialized only through a proper understanding from the part of the teacher. It is very important to streamline the students on the basis of their respective potential and ability to grasp. This way, the levels of their achievement could be clearly demarcated both by the teacher and the students themselves. The key role of a teacher in the classroom must be that of a comprehending elder who is approachable on any area related to education. Even as the need for specialization is paramount, the overall personality of teachers makes a great difference in their role as facilitators. Students should be allowed the necessary freedom to communicate with teachers on any issue for which they need help. If there are specific needs from the part of the students who call for some research to be done by the teachers, they must be willing to do that effectively and with competence. An efficient teacher always succeeds in motivating students. This is quite often done through casual remarks in the class or gestures through which one could convince every student that they are specially taken care of. Students of all age groups seek attention inside and outside classrooms. The willingness to accept them as individuals capable of achieving certain goals in their life will help teachers guide them through the trials and tribulations of life and prepare them for success in life. It is very important to learn the names of one’s students, and to address them occasionally. This reassures them a lot and fulfils their needs of identity. Teachers have the duty to acknowledge the needs of students outside the classrooms as well.  

Ational Geographic photographers videos and responses Assignment

Ational Geographic photographers videos and responses - Assignment Example He has a specially improved camera Obscura helping him to reveal iconic landscapes from the unique perspective. He says his pictures are dreamlike and surreal, but are products of camera in recording, which is like a dream in the physical wake (National Geographic 1). He uses photography to reflect the influence of global warming. His time-lapse cameras have captured evidence of reducing glaciers and changing snow patterns across the world. He maintains that camera gives a language to communicate to the world because the pictorial language can penetrate people’s hearts and minds. He insists that the photographer’s highest calling is to challenge and alter the inherited wisdom (National Geographic 1). Professor Kashi describes the highs and the lows of the working as a photojournalist. During the interview, Kashi shares his beliefs that a photographer’s great work comes from the issues he or she genuinely cares. He maintains that a photojournalist has to examine the world and himself because of the challenges and risks involved to accomplish the mission (National Geographic 1). He gained access to North Korea where he stresses on seeing life from you because of the different passions possessed by various people. In his viewpoint, the lives of the photographers are not normal life. He expresses interest in the photos of people taking the bus, couple crying at the Pyongyang airport and kids throwing snowballs at each other (National Geographic 1). Brian Skerry has been diving with the camera for over 30 years capturing the unseen world below the water’s surface. The passion of protecting the planet for the future motivated his underwater photography. He says that photography is a discovery process as he spends time with different kinds of sea creatures underwater from the biggest to smallest (National Geographic 1). He photographed human rights abuses and conflicts in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He captured the lives of citizens in the

((((3)))) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

((((3)))) - Essay Example Abigail aggressiveness proof that she has been involved with fighting with other children and she is also frequently punishment by her parents. Curbing Abigail situation has proven to ambiguous as whenever teacher tried to help her she would perceive that teacher is also finding ways of punishing her. This has made us to seek psychotherapist assistances For the teacher to achieve his intend goal he/she has to structure a cooperative task that will consider previous experiences of the children. Therefore, proof to ambiguous as the teacher will not be in better position to come up with cooperative task that will cover every child previous experiences Teachers can use Center Ticket to build Assessment decision that reflect age suitable in both content and the method of information collection and in achieving this teachers can share this information with families by seeking to know each child’s 1st and 2nd language, and also their prior experience at home. After visiting Colorin Colorado, I came to realize parents and teachers’ observation should be valued as source of effective assessment information. The new information I leant is that Parents and teachers involvements at assessing our learners help us to understanding the social and cognitive of children’s development, and this is vibrant at assisting the teacher develop a fair instruction method to all children including seeking to know each child’s 1st and 2nd

History of Cricket in India

History of Cricket in India Cricket is religion in India. How many times have we heard that in the news, read that in newspaper, quoted in conversations? Though the National game of India is Hockey but it is cricket that has the Indian publics heart. People follow this game like a religion. People in India might not be aware of Indian Hockey teams captain but they are aware of cricketers playing for the first time in national colours. Corporate houses, politicians, even the media wants to get associated with cricket in one form or the other. This wasnt always the case with cricket. There was a time when cricket was a game only for the royals and the privileged and the common man had no or very little access to it. Cricket was started in India by the British as early as 1791. It wasnt late in the 19th and early 20th century that it was played with a lot more interest. In 1932 India became one of the few counties to be given the right to play international cricket. A lot of people along with the then king of England followed the game. India, along with other countries became a regular in International cricket, but it was an average cricket playing nation. It was followed by a lot of people now, but there was very little media coverage. This might have been due to the poor performance of Indian cricket team during this time. This might also be attributed to the fact that Indian Hockey was at its best during this time racking in medals after medals at Olympics and other International events. In 1983, a shocking turn of events took place; India won the World Cup. They did so by beating the then cricket powerhouse West Indies in the finals. Indian cricket team received a heros welcome. They were the new talk of the town. Everybody wanted to see them, talk about them and know about them. Around this time, television also started making its way into Indian peoples drawing rooms. This is when the media, though limited in its scope, got a chance to bring these cricketers closer to Indian audiences and fans. This was to open a door of endless possibilities which were beneficial for both the parties. This was the first time Indian cricketers started making money through endorsements and sponsorship deals. This trend was started by Sunil Gavaskar. But Media had a big hand to play in it. The popularity of these cricketers was as much due to the coverage of their feats in the newspapers, television news (mainly Doordarshan) and radio. In the 90s two other new changes came which were about to revolutionize cricket and media both. The advent of cable television was about to change how news was viewed and how Indian audiences looked at entertainment. The rise of Sachin Tendulkar also was a phenomenon which brought unlimited money into cricket and cricketers became richer and richer through sponsorship deals and endorsements. In 1995, worldtel signed Sachin Tendulkar for Rs 30 crore, and after this, there was no looking back for cricketers. The beginning of 24 hours news channels saw the start of entertainment and news merging together. The media got too involved in the lives of cricketers and everything a cricketer did was in the limelight. The audience wanted to know everything about their favourite cricketer and the media delivered. This led to the crazy idolization of cricketers when they performed and their fall was even more dramatic whenever they failed. Media was instrumental in shedding light on the match fixing scandal that shook the cricket world. Before that, the cricket world used to talk about it in hush tones and nobody was sure what was going on. But the whole Hansie Cronje incident also brought down many big names and media had a big role in providing evidence against the culprits. Initially the role of the media in Indian cricket was progressive during the transitional period in the Indian cricket, where we were transitioning from an average cricket playing nation to a force to reckon with. But now, the Indian media, in my opinion (particularly the electronic media) does not serve the interest of the people and cricket in general in fact some of it is positively anti-cricket. The Indian media today is busy making profits or helping some political party fulfil a political agenda. Earning money through selling stories about crickets to the masses and bringing controversies like these are not the only motive that media has with cricket. Media often diverts the attention of the people from real issues to non-issues. The real issues in India are socio-economic. Even in cricket the real issues are development based. In olden times emperors used to say if you cannot feed them bread, then give them circus This is what the Indian media is doing today. Nobody would disagree with the fact that a little entertainment in news would not harm anyone, but today the media is overdoing it. Media distracts people from real issues using entertainment and what better way to distract people than cricket. The best example of this would be India-Pakistan relations. The partition of 1947 and the resultant turmoil triggered off hatred, distrust and prejudice in almost every sphere of activity in the sub-continent. Interestingly, it was cricket that formed the first bilateral exchange in 1952 when Pakistan, led by Abdul Hafeez Kardar, toured India, evoking a spontaneous, albeit tense, response. It was reciprocated two years later when India paid the first official visit under Vinoo Mankad, generating an equally sensitive response. Yet since 1947 a cricket conflict brewed simultaneously between the two countries, based on the nationalist antagonism between the two teams and backed by passionate fans on both sides. And even today whenever there is a talk of the Indian and Pakistani dialogue over politics and peace process, it starts with resuming Indo-Pak cricket ties. And thus starts the agenda of distracting the general public from the real issues. Indian public, (not as a generalisation) is not disappointed with the failure in the peace negotiati on as long as we win the cricket match between the two countries. Today Indo-Pak cricket offers a striking case study to see how a political conflict between two states has trickled down to the mass level and saturated the mass psyche to such an extent, that political hostilities are not only played on the Line of Control but also on the cricket field. This mass psyche of a purported nationalist conflict has been also revved by years of state propaganda against the enemy country, which permeated in all forms of interaction and exchange with the enemy be it sports or war. Media often divides people. Be it about bomb blast, Indias Foreign policy or Indias chances in the next cricket world cup. It is healthy for a country and its people to have debates and opposing views, but the way media works in India, we are being fed opinions about how we should think about policies, personalities and situations. Our views and opinions are polarized by the media and we see through their eyes. There was a time when Indian cricketers did not have money, and except for the cricketers playing at the international level, domestic cricketers had to struggle with their career and money. But Indian cricket board became one of the richest sporting bodies in the world. And then came IPL, the country was divided between whether it was fair for cricketers, especially young cricketers starting their careers, to get ridiculous amount of money. Then there was corruption and this heated up the debate even more. IPL was used by politicians, movie stars, corporate houses and media houses as well to their advantage (not taking into account Deccan chronicles recent decline). IPL became a way for everyone to earn money and easy publicity. Media also became a part of this honey pot. Constant coverage of not just cricket but of the cricketers activities, the parties and the over analysis of performances, all became part of what media circus that was IPL. Media has now become so powerful that based on one failure or success it can create stars and make villains. The Ganguly-Chappell controversy was brought to the general public by the media. Something that was supposed to stay in the dressing room was now at the medias disposal. It led to the downfall of both Ganguly as well as Greg Chappell. Media and the players have started to understand how to use each other for their own benefit. Players have started using media to increase their popularity, joining social networking sites, remaining in the public eye. All this gets them bigger and better pay checks. Today the fee these stars charge for a single endorsement is astronomical. Media has had a big role to play in that. Also a lot of players make up some controversy right before they release their autobiography. They leak some controversial part of the book and then media does the rest. But Media also benefits from these cricketers. Players give them sound bites, come as guests for expert opinions, which raises the TRPs of their programs and gets them advertising spots as well. Indian Public has been fed with large amount of information by the 24 hours news channels but the quality and standard of its content have become extremely narrow. The glitz and the glamour of television have taken the Indian viewer by storm. They surf from channel to channel, mindlessly viewing and getting information that they might not need leaving them confused and perplexed and unable to think for themselves and thats when media feeds them information that they want the viewer to take. The amount of money involved in cricket today and the influence it holds over the general Indian public is huge, and that make a very powerful motivator for the media to use cricket as a tool to further its agendas in India and the world.

How Has Religion Affected History And Literature? :: essays research papers

â€Å"And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.† With these words, penned by the eminent political scientist Thomas Jefferson, the struggling colonies known as the United States proclaimed their independence from Great Britain and began an adventure that would develop this small nation into a world superpower. With this â€Å"firm reliance†, her people embraced the unknown future and set out to advance their country politically, economically, and socially. Now, over two centuries later, many would argue that this â€Å"Divine Providence† has been almost completely eradicated from society. Yet, despite these many claims, the fact remains that religion has played a vital role in American public life and, despite the â€Å"demoralization† of the United States that so many individuals cry out against, religion continues to be a basic cornerstone of American societal life. Over and over again, both the history and the literature of the United States of America have taught her people and the world that religion has and always will have an incalculable effect upon the society of the United States. Historically, many see the United States as a â€Å"Christian nation† founded on Christian principles by Christian men with Christian motives. Therefore, they will argue that this heritage should be continued in the U.S. today by allowing prayer in public schools, outlawing abortion, or giving religious organizations special privileges. However, a closer examination of American history reveals that although the United States was founded with many religious guidelines, America is not a specifically Christian nation. This having been said, it is important to recognize how religion has historically affected American society. A chief example of religion’s impact is found in the landmark Supreme Court ruling of 1962 in the case of Engel vs. Vitale in which organized prayer in the public school system was declared unconstitutional. Steven Engel, a Jewish man in New York, had visited his son’s classroom in the fall of 1958 and was offended when he observed the entire cl ass, including his son, with their hands clasped together and their heads bowed. Along with four other parents, Engel challenged the school board and its president, William Vitale, and, on June 25, 1962, the Supreme Court ruled 6-1 that organized prayer in public schools, regardless of whether they are a requirement or not, were unconstitutional and therefore must cease immediately.

Odysseus as an Epic Hero Essay

What is an epic hero? Homers’ â€Å"Odyssey† is about an epic hero named Odysseus and his quest home. â€Å"The Odyssey† begins after the Trojan war had left Odysseus trapped, pointlessly seafaring for 10 years after angering Poseidon, the god of the sea. He tries desperately to return home to Ithaka and his wife, Penelope, and newborn son, Telemachus. Odysseus then has many hardships upon which he overcomes through his intelligence and wit. Odysseus is an epic hero because he is intelligent, he listens to the god’s advice, and he is witty; able to think on his feet. With the help of the gods he can survive things most men couldn’t. First, nearing the end of the Epic, Odysseus continues to use his intelligence to overcome obstacles and hardships. Upon one attempt to return home, Odysseus must pass the island of the Sirens. He has his men plug their ears with beeswax but not before he tells them his place in the plan: â€Å"Take me and bind me to the crosspiece half way up the mast; bind me as I stand upright, with a bond so fast that I cannot possibly break away, and lash the rope’s ends to the mast itself. If I beg and pray you to set me free, then bind me more tightly still. Even though Odysseus gives into the weakness of the sirens’ song, he is unable to escape from the bonds of the rope and his previous intelligence saves him. Once he arrives in Ithaca, Odysseus once again uses his intelligence to overcome his suitors and reclaim his estate. When he first encounters the people of his land, he wisely chooses to remain anonymous, avoiding an unplanned struggle or fight. Odysseus then reveals himself to his son and few servants to plan an attack on the suitors. At a contest to see if anyone can string Odysseus’s bow, the hero plans his attack after stringing the bow and firing on the suitors. His son and servants have the other arms and they massacre the entire group of suitors. This was one of Odysseus’s final acts of brilliance to conclude the epic. Furthermore, there are many instances throughout the epic where Odysseus takes the advice of the gods to overcome the obstacles he is faced with. One of the first events is when Odysseus encounters Aeolus, the god of winds. Many men would not trust this god and not accept his secret bag of wind, believing it would be a plague of some sort. But, Odysseus accepts Aeolus’ bag of winds and treats him with hospitality. Another instance where Odysseus accepts the gods’ guidance is when the hero listens to Hermes on how to overcome Circe: â€Å"But Hermes met me, with his golden wand, barring the way-a boy whose lip was downy in the first bloom of mankind, so he seemed. He took my hand and spoke as though he knew me. † By Hermes insight, Odysseus eats the food that is given to him and patiently waits for the right time to strike. Odysseus subdues Circe and forces her to free his men from the bondage of swine. After living in luxury with Circe for a year, he listens to her advice on how to return to his homeland of Ithaca. Finally, one of the first obstacles Odysseus conquers is the defeat of the Cyclops. Once trapped in the cave of the one-eyed monster, Odysseus must devise a plan and fast, the giant had taken to consuming his men. This is where Odysseus’ wit comes into play. Cunningly, Odysseus gets the Cyclops drunk and allows him to fall into slumber. He then blinds the Cyclops with a red-hot spear, knowing intelligently enough that if he kills the Cyclops they will be trapped forever. Searching for help, the giant opens the cave. Earlier, Odysseus says: â€Å"My name is Nobody: mother, father, and friends, everybody calls me Nobody. When the blinded giant is seeking help from his brothers, he proclaims that, â€Å"Nobody† blinded him. Therefore, Odysseus and his men escape with their lives by the means of this hero’s wit.? In conclusion, through this intelligence and wit with advice from the gods, Odysseus overcomes all of his obstacles against all odds. Being a true hero, the Achaeans look up to Odysseus as a role model with his intelligence, wit, and godly insight. It is because of these three traits that Odysseus is considered an epic hero and is never to be forgotten.